Charles egbert schupphaus



PATENT OFFICE.

oI-IARLES ROBERT SCHUPPHAUS, OFZYLONITE, MASSAoHUsETTS, ASSIGNoR TO THEAMERICAN ZYLONITE COMPANY, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y.

PYROXY LlNE VARNISH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 410,205, datedSeptember 3, 1889.- Applieation filed December 20, 1888- Seriel No.294,155. (Specimens) To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLES ROBERT SOHUPPHAUS, a subject of the Emperorof Germany, residing at Zylonite, in the county of Berkshire and Stateof Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Solventsof .Pyroxyline, of which the following is a specification.

In the manufacture of plastic compounds whose base is solublepyroxyline, the solvent first used was commercial ethylic ether to formwhat is known as collodion. This commercial ethylic ether in 1848 alwayscontained alcohol, and ethylic ether with ethylic alcohol is a perfectsolvent of dinitro-cellulose; but the cost of this solvent, owing to thetax on alcohol, limits its employment. Woodnaphtha or methylic alcoholis a very perfect solvent of dinitro-cellulose; but the solventpreferred by most. manufacturers is composed of camphor and alcohol,equal parts. The camphor being a solid and having high melting andboiling points, it is necessary to use some liquid to dissolve thecamphor. The solution is usually either methylic or ethylic aloe 1101,or a mixture of them. These liquid solvents evaporate largely from themass during manipulation of the rolls and the steam heat of the presses,and by subsequent curing and molding the production of the plasticcompound is considerably'enhanced in cost incident to the loss of weightfrom'these causes. Notwithstanding the fact that a large number of othersolvents have heretofore been proposed, few, if any, have been found togive perfectly satisfactory results, and consequently ethylic andmethylic alcohols continue to be used. Such being the state of the art,I commenced a series of investigations with a view to determine whatsolvents would serve as a 40 substitute in whole or in part for thealcohols mentioned, whether the same be used alone or in combinationwith camphor or other solvents. The result of my investigations has beenthat I have found, among other materials, that anthraquinone, which is.a yellow crystalline compound having a melting-point of 523 Fahrenheit,is a solvent of pyroxyline in conjunction with alcohol. It may be usedin all cases where its color is no impediment.

The use of this is compatible with the wellknown solvents usedcommercially at the present time in the conversion of pyroxyline.

It will be understood that the proportions of the ingredients to be usedare determined by the natureof the ultimate product desiredt'. a,whether a collodion or liquid varnish is to be prepared ora solidplastic body or mass which may be molded or worked into various forms.For pyroxyline varnishes a larger quantity of liquid solvent or solventswill be used, while a less proportion will be required for theproduction of a plastic body or mass.

What I claim is" In the manufacture of pyroxyline compounds, a varnishor plastic compound consisting of nitro-cellulose in combination withanthraquinoue and alcohol, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES ROBERT SCHUPPHAUS.

\Vitnesses:

.H. SoHoMEURe,

H. H. SoHiiRMANN.

